U.S. factory orders rise 0.3 pct in April

Factory orders in U.S. climbed less than expected during April. Orders for manufactured goods increased 0.3%, following a revised 4.1% gain in March. March factory orders were originally reported 3.1% higher.
Demand for durable goods, things designed to last at least three years, increased 0.8%. Durables orders rose 5.1% in March. Non-durable goods orders decreased 0.2%, after a 2.9% increase in the prior month.

Meanwhile, a yardstick for business investment demand - non-defense capital goods orders - rose 2.1% in April, after climbing 4.6% in March.

The 0.3% April climb was surprisingly weak. Economists expected an increase of 0.7%